Victim of biggest Northern Ireland financial scam of 2025 lost over £2m
The victim of the biggest and most severe financial scam in Northern Ireland in the last year lost more than £2 million.The individual was left out of pocket by a staggering £2,066,666, a Freedom of Information request to the PSNI revealed.This loss represents a dramatic rise compared with the previous financial year, when the largest single victim still suffered a substantial hit of almost half a million pounds. In total, 487 people reported losing money to scams during that period, with the highest individual loss in 2024 amounting to £460,000.Scams are becoming increasingly more common as criminals and fraudsters take advantage of new technologies. Additionally, the amount of personal information people share online is increasing.From fake investment schemes to phishing emails and social‑media impersonation, tactics are becoming more sophisticated and harder to spot. Many people are targeted through convincing messages that appear to come from trusted organisations, making it easier for scammers to deceive victims.The trend shows no sign of slowing. By October alone, more than £27 million had already been stolen through scams in 2025, which police say underscores the growing sophistication of fraudsters.Reacting to the figures, Superintendent Joanne Gibson says taking a moment to stop and check whenever contact is made, can make a difference in tackling fraud.“By staying vigilant, and taking the time to verify the approach is genuine and legitimate, we can protect ourselves and our loved ones against criminals and keep our money safe,” Superintendent Gibson said.“No one is immune to fraud, we know anyone can be impacted. The Police Service, along with partners in our ScamwiseNI Partnership, encourage everyone to have a conversation about fraud to raise awareness. “This way we can empower each other with the knowledge of how to spot frauds and stop them and adopt measures to protect our information. “This can include something as simple as having different passwords for different accounts and never giving out your personal and financial information over the phone to someone claiming to represent your bank. Being aware can stop the fraudster. “Importantly, if you have lost money in a fraud please report it - to police, your bank and Report Fraud as soon as possible. This is key to stopping the fraudster’s ability to steal more of your money.”
